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NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ALGAE AND ME

WHAT ARE ALGAE ?

SHARED CHARACTERISTICS WITH PLANTS, ANIMALS, BACTERIA

UNIQUENESS OF THE KLAMATH LAKE ALGAE STRAIN

THE ALGAE OF KLAMATH LAKE

NUTRITIONAL CONTENT

MINERALS

VITAMINS

Table 2. Key Vitamins in AFA Algae

PROTEINS/AMINO ACIDS

ENZYMES

Table 3. Amino Acid Content of AFA Algae

 

EXCERPTS FROM THE BOOK

 

MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE GREEN ALGAE.

 

BENEFITS

Almost 98 percent of the patients I see in my clinical practice are deficient in one or more

minerals or vitamins. Yet our health is dependent on complete availability and absorption of

nutrients in a form that our bodies can utilize. Even a deficiency in just one nutrient can cause a

chain reaction, triggering deficiencies in many other nutrients. There are many biochemical and

reasons for poor nutrient absorption which may include (1) a sluggish body, (2) excess

of unhealthy mucus along the walls of the small intestines, (3) nutrient-deficient foods, (4)

malfunctioning digestive system. It is possible that a person may consistently take vitamin or

mineral supplement pills, with little or no recognized benefit if the body.s biochemical absorption

system fails to function properly. Unlike supplement pills and unlike most other foods, the AFA

algae has a greater than 90 percent assimilation rate. This means that the algae, recognized by the

body as a food, absorbs with unsurpassed efficiency and rapidity when com- pared to most other

natural or perhaps unnatural substances. Thus, even if a person.s internal absorption system is

malfunctioning, the algae is so biologically assimilable that tangible benefits can still be obtained

nonetheless. For these reasons, the wild blue-green algae could play a major role in wiping out

malnutrition. For example, an acclaimed study on severely mal- nourished children, under the

auspices of the Central American University (1994), found that 79 percent of these subjects no

longer exhibited symptoms of malnutrition after just six months on the algae.. In

addition, NASA has been studying the algae as a possible food source for space missions.. It is

understandable that this algae delivers such a broad spectrum of benefits ranging from

weight loss to memory booster to immune system enhancer and much more; it.s all in the rate of

assimilation and absorption. Finally, it.s interesting to note that the Russians have used algae to

treat patients exposed to radiation in the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Following are summaries of

this algae.s potential benefits, based on my own clinical research and clinical case

studies and other research reports as well.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gillian McKeith, Ph.D. is a practicing clinical nutritionist in the United Kingdom and Director of

the McKeith Health Clinic of London. She conducts clinical research, publishes findings and

treats illness through comprehensive biochemistry. Dr. McKeith incorporates

orthomolecular nutrients, dietary counseling, allergy, toxic-metal and biochemical testing, and

believes that most disease can be eradicated with the proper application of a natural and

approach. Dr. McKeith signed as the Healthy Living Expert for the BBC.s .Good

Morning Show. in Great Britain. She was the celebrity nutritionist for both the .Mike k Maty

Show. on ABC and .The Joan Rivers Show.. She also co-hosted the syndicated .Healthline

Across America. radio program originating from Station WMCA in New York. Dr. McKeith

authors regular editorial columns in national and international publications, and presents her

.Ultimate Hea1thy Living. Workshops to audiences worldwide. She was educated at the

University of Edinburgh, University of Pennsylvania, the London School of Acupuncture and the

American Holistic College of Nutrition.

Miracle Superfood:

Wild Blue-Green

Algae

The nutrient powerhouse that

stimulates the immune system,

boosts brain power and

guards against disease

© Gillian McKeith, Ph.D.

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 ALGAE AND ME

As a clinical nutritionist, I have always prided myself on eating nutritious foods, exercising

regularly and helping hundreds of my own clients to achieve optimum health. I had one secret

blemish, however: small white specks appeared on my finger- nails. Laboratory tests revealed my

suspicions that I was deficient in the mineral zinc. Zinc deficiency has been associated with

infertility, hair-skin- nail problems, immune system dysfunction and various systemic disorders.

Therefore, I attempted to supplement my intake of this vital mineral. Over the course of several

years, I tried zinc capsules, tablets, lozenges and even zinc 1.iquid. Nothing worked. My zinc

deficiency persisted and my fingernails continued to be littered with the most awful white spots.

It was obvious that my body was not absorbing the zinc supplements. Cognizant of the dangers of

zinc deficiency (especially since I wanted to get pregnant), I kept my eyes open for other

alternatives. The revelation appeared at my doorstep several years ago; actually it occurred while

I was co-hosting a national health radio show in the U.S., .Healthline Across America.. I was

interviewing a guest who had survived an insidious strain of leukemia. After two relapses (a third

relapse would be considered fatal) and chemotherapy radiation treatment, this patient had

checked himself out of the hospital and turned his back on all of the conventional treatment that

he claims were making him more ill. (Note: I would never condone a leukemic patient checking

out of hospital.). Ten years later as a guest on my show, he was in the radio studio to tell us that

he was now continually free of leukemia and feeling great. His horrifying disease had gone into

remission. I asked him why he thought he was able to stave off a relapse for so long. He

responded, .There.s just one thing I.m doing differently.. I countered, .What is that one thing?.

He said, .I take some- thing called blue-green algae from Klamath Lake every day, and I never

miss taking it.. At the time, I had never heard of this blue-green algae, but his words seemed to

hit me like a ton of bricks. I made it a point to find out all that I could about wild blue- green

algae; it has now become my life-long obsession. I then began taking wild blue-green algae from

Klamath Lake as part of my own regimen. Within 3 months, the white spots on my

fingernails disappeared. I decided to take the blue-green algae all through my recent pregnancy as

well. Every morning I made an algae drink which consisted of apple juice, aloe vera juice and

water mixed with two teaspoons of the blue-green algae. Each time I drank this concoction, I felt

as if my baby and womb were both expanding. The doctors were amazed when my petite frame

produced a hefty eight- pound baby. I continued the wi1d blue-green algae drink after the birth.

Many months later, I still continue to breast-feed; my gynecologist has said that I have the

thickest creamiest mother.s milk. I contribute much of my rapid recovery, my high energy level

and my baby.s wonderful development to this algae. I have since become one of the world.s

leading advocates of wild blue-green algae, specifically Aphanizemenon flos-aqua from Klamath

Lake, Oregon

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WHAT ARE ALGAE,

A note on grammar. .Algae. is the plural of .alga,. and is properly treated as a plural noun:

.Algae are,. etc. There are times, though, when this sounds awkward, and for my readers. and

my own ease, I shall use the singular form when it is more comfortable: .Blue-Green algae is an

excellent food.. Now let us consider what algae are, or is. Algae, also known as phytoplankton,

are plant life without roots, leaves or flowers. It is estimated that there are more than 25,000

species of algae in existence. Most are mainly marine algae in the oceans; the rest are freshwater

algae. Pond scums, water mosses, sea vegetables or seaweeds are all forms of algae. These algaes

span an array of sizes from tiny picoplankton, which need to be magnified 1,000 times in order to

be seen, to giant kelps in the oceans up to 50 meters in ---

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MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE / 8

--- length. All algaes are composed of self-sufficient cells. For ex- ample, if you break off a piece,

the broken piece and its host will still thrive. In addition, algaes can be separated by color. Algaes

may be blue-green, green, red, brown, golden, purple. The deeper the color, the more intense is

the spectrum of biochemicaI properties. The hot springs at Yellowstone National Park are called

the .Paint Pots. because of the striking colors produced by the permanent residue of algae. There

are credible scientific and archaeological indications that during the first 30,000 years of the

existence of our human race, algae were a significant source of food. The Aztec civilizations of

ancient Mexico used and traded edible algae from their lakes. The algae were often mixed with

maiz.e (corn) to provide a nutritious meal. There is historical evidence to suggest that the ancient

Incas of South America harvested and ate raw algae. And to this day the Kanembus tribe still eat

algae from Lake Chad in Africa, just as their ancestors did; the algae are swept up with nets, sun-

dried and shaped into small cakes, sold in the market at Chad.s capital, N.Djamena and through-

out the country. It is used for soups and sauces, like bouillon cubes. The algae-eating children of

this tribe show no signs of malnutrition, unlike their non-algae eating neighbors, who suffer

various degrees of malnutrition. Some scholars maintain that, in the Near East during biblical

times, the food called manna was prepared with species of algae harvested from the Dead Sea.

Moreover, red algae provided the name and color for the Red Sea.. For thousands of years,

Chinese herbalists have been using algae to treat vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Algae are

medically known in the Far East as an aid to digestion.

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OXYGENATION

Algae have been around much longer than people, being in fact the initial form of life on Earth.

Prior to the existence of algae, the Earth was a barren wasteland with only poisonous gases,

devoid of oxygen. Algae assisted the process of making the environment habitable by animal life

by using the power of the sun to split water molecules, combining the hydrogen part with carbon

dioxide. This biochemical reaction allowed algae to create their own food from the surrounding

gases and minerals. The oxygen half of the water molecule was freed into the atmosphere as a by-

product, providing the basis for all human and animal life. To flourish, algae need only minerals,

water and sunlight. Today, these remarkable forms of life are credited with up to 80 percent of

nature.s food supply and 90 percent of the Earth.s oxygen production.. If there were no algae, life

as we know it would cease to exist.

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BLUE-GREEN ALGAE

Of all the many strains of different types of algae in existence, the blue-greens are the most

distinct from other plants and algaes. There are anywhere form 500 to 1500 different species of

these blue-green algaes. Fossil records indicate that the blue-greens are the most primitive of all

algaes, dating back over four billion years. These algaes have endured while thousands of other

plant and animal species have become extinct.. The blue-gqeens are true survival pioneers,

quickly changing and adapting to light conditions, temperatures and physical and chemical

changes as the environment dictates. They were probably the very first organisms to release

elemental oxygen into the primitive and barren planetary atmosphere. In evolutionary terms, the

blue-greens (scientifically known as Cyanobacteria) represent a link between bacteria and green

plants.4 This algae type, therefore, is both a plant and a healthy bacterium. Blue-green algae and

bacteria have a similar composition. The genetic makeup, photosynthesis apparatus and the

respiratory system are not separated by internal membranes. The .information. in the blue-green

algae or bacteria, such as how to produce enzymes, how to digest antibiotics, how to repair

ceIlular injury and how to quench free radicals is totally accessible. (Free radicals attack other

molecules with which they come in contact.) Blue-green algae and bacteria are sometimes

referred to as prokaryotes (cells which lack membrane-bound nucleus). All other algaes and

higher evolved plants are called eukaryotes. (The nucleus and pigments are confined within

distinct membranes.) This is quite significant in terms of absorption, providing access to the

goodness of the algae. Research scientist Daryl Kollman writes in his book Hope Is a Molecule

about the ease of access to the nutrient profile: .... the essential bacteria in your intestinal tract

[have] access to all the information contained in the blue-green algae.. It is Kollman.s opinion

that .the biological information learned routinely by the blue-green algae. is information that the

human race needs in order to survive. For instance, it might take us a million years to develop

genetic information that would allow us to adapt to excess radiation; blue-green algae would

adapt to it in a few months. When we eat the algae we then have access to that information and

knowledge of adaptation to our surrounding environment, argues Kollman. On a more

metaphysical level, some algae enthusiasts be- lieve that if you eat blue-green algae on a regular

basis, you will connect with something essential and ancient. Richard France, a macrobiotic

counselor, states, .It is not inconceivable that on subtle vibrational levels, unique genetic

memories and messages of harmony and peace are stored in algae, which have grown undisturbed

for aeons in a pristine environment. This information may be passed on to us at a cellular level,

encouraging harmony among our own cellular family.

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MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE / 10

 SHARED CHARACTERISTICS WITH PLANTS, ANIMALS, BACTERIA

Blue-green algae are quite distinct from other algaes in that they share characteristics with plants,

animals and bacteria. Like plants, they have the ability to perform photosynthesis, but they do it

far better than any other plant. They are the most chlorophyll-rich organisms on the planet..

Special phycolilin pigments initiate the conversion of light energy to chemical energy by certain

wavelengths of visible light to which chlorophyll is not as sensitive. The energy is absorbed by

the pohycolilins and passed onto the chlorophyll. Further- more, blue-green algae are similar to

animal cells in structure in that both have a soft, digestible cell wall composed of glycogen, which

our bodies can use as a food. Many other plants have indigestible cellulose cell walls. Thus,

because the algae.s cell walls are soft and easy to digest, we can obtain more nutrients from its

ingestion.

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UNIQUENESS OF THE KLAMATH LAKE ALGAE STRAIN

Wild blue-green algae (Aphanizemenon flos-aqua or AFA) from Klamath Lake, Oregon is

different and distinct from most algaes. It is a wild, uncultivated plant food. It is one of the few

species of algae which grows wild in its own natural habitat, one of the world.s most rich

.nutrient traps.. Unlike this indigenous and wild form of blue-green algae, some algaes are grown

artificially in manmade farming ponds. The extraordinary and natural environment in which wild

blue-green algae is grown is impossible to duplicate on these algae farms. Wild blue-green algae

are completely free of artificial, synthetic influences. Because AFA is so purely and naturally

grown in its own wild habitat, it has the most beneficial impact upon the human body. My basic

argument is that wild AFA is superior: 1) in its rate of assimilability, digestibility and absorption,

2) as a food and energy source, 3) in nutrient density, and 4) as a preventative against disease.

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11 / MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE

Absorption

First, AFA algae have a soft cell glucose (glycoliprotein complex . protein bonded to

carbohydrate) wall that is easily digested by the body; this allows rapid absorption and

assimilation of vital nutrients. Other synthetically cultivated algaes and plants may have

indigestible cellulose walls making absorption difficult or impossible. Wild blue-green algae is an

anabolic substance. Translation: its organic compounds are more readily assimilated, absorbed,

digested, metabolized and utilized by the human body.

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Life Force Energy

Second, AFA algae require intense sunlight to grow. They favor the summer months in Oregon

for their most prolific growth period. This may explain why they have such high levels of

chlorophyll. Plant energy can be transferred from the chlorophyll directly to hemoglobin in the

red blood cells of human blood plasma. The red blood cells and the plasma transfer the plant

energy directly to the cells and to the bond structure, which then transmit it to the overall human

body. AFA algae therefore have the ability to purify blood, quell inflammations and rejuvenate.

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Fixing Nitrogen

Third, AFA is now known to fix nitrogen. This means that the algae breathe in nitrogen from the

air to produce a rich source of proteins, nucleic acids, nitrogen compounds and other essential

nutrients. These compounds enrich the soil and environment around them, as the nitrogen acts

just like natural fertilizer. Un- like AFA, some algaes do not have the ability to metabolize

nitrogen from the air and can only grow in soils where nitrogen compounds are already present or

artificially added.

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Nutrient Density

Fourth, AFA is a most nutrient-dense food with high concentrations of vitamins, minerals and

other important natural sub- stances. Over 95 percent of the nutrients can be used directly by the

body in the same form. The vitamin B-complex profile of AFA is very high, especially vitamins

B2, B6 and B12. For example, one gram of wild blue-green algae supplies more than the

Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is essential for the

production of red blood

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MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE / 12

cells. It helps them to develop to a point where protein, folic acid, iron and vitamin C can mature

properly and thus carry more oxygen to the cells. A deficiency of B12 may cause pernicious

anemia. Restricted diets and poor absorption can cause a B12 deficiency. AFA has the highest

active vegetable source of vitamin B12, in a form that is totally usable by the body. AFA algae

have 65 times the B12 content of kelp, and almost 700 times more B12 than alfalfa. The B

vitamins within AFA algae are of such high quality that they can boost the body.s energy level,

endurance and stamina. B vitamins convert carbohydrates into glucose, which the body can then

utilize to pro- duce energy. The ability of blue-green algae to efficiently transfer glucose into

energy (via the B vitamins) may represent its most important health contribution. In addition, the

algae strain AFA has a broader spectrum of minerals than any other green algae. To date, over 40

macro- and micro-minerals have been identified in the wild blue-green algae.. These minerals are

bound into a colloidal matrix, which means they are enzyme-bound. Such configurations cannot

be synthesized. Choline, an ingredient important to the brain.s phospholipids, is absent in many

blue-greens but is present in AFA algae. AFA is an elixir for the brain unlike any other algae and

has a beneficial impact upon brain synchronization: it specifically enhances the hypothalamus,

the pineal and pituitary glands. In my own clinical research, I have found patients reporting

improved mental clarity, enhanced memory and a sharper sense nf focus after ingesting AFA

algae for several months. It ought to be noted that AFA has a slightly bitter taste. According to

traditional Chinese medicine, bitter flavors influence the heart-mind system, actually helping the

mind to focus better. Victor Kubinskas in his book Survival into the 21st Century described it as a

.mental buzz and blissed out feeling.. You can.t achieve this type of mind enhancement with any

other algae. AFA has a much higher concentration of vitamin C than any other algae. This is

important because iron needs the synergistic effect of vitamin C to be properly assimilated in our

bodies. The iron content of wild blue-green algae is equally impressive; its ability to build the

quality of the blood is thus superior. Of its dry weight, more than two-thirds of AFA is

assimilable protein, more than any other algae. AFA wild blue- green algae gets its protein

content from atmospheric nitrogen. AFA may even have .special vibrational fields.. Dr.. Gabriel

Cousins describes it as .subtle, organized energy fields.. These vibrational energy fields are the

life forces of the algae, which he believes has the ability to regenerate mind, body and immune

forces.. Therefore, more so than any other algae, this wild blue-green strain is a perfect food and

perfect food supplement in preventing and treating deficiencies, imbalances or

disorders. Please note that when I refer to .wild blue-green algae,. I mean specifically the

Aphanizemenon flos-aqua (AFA) strain. I use the terms interchangeably, the only difference

being that one is the biochemical name and the other the common name.

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THE ALGAE OF KLAMATH LAKE

 Klamath Lake is one of the world.s richest sources of the AFA strain of wild blue-green algae,

the strain scientifically referred to as Aphanizemenon, flos aqua (AFA). This lake is nestled 3000

feet up in the almost inaccessible Cascade Mountains of Oregon, boasting one of the most

abundant supplies of minerals and trace elements. This mineral treasury is the result of massive

volcanic eruptions that occurred several thousand years ago, blanketing the area with millions of

tons of mineral- rich volcanic ash. Fifty thousand tons of this ash flow every day into the 140-

square mile lake from the 4000-square mile volcanic basin through a network of 17 rivers,

streams and falls. This spectacular lake in its unique position of isolation has become a natural

power-packed nutrient-trap impossible for man to duplicate. The blue-green algae from Klamath

Lake grows wild; it is free of adverse bacteria, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides

and fungicides..

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TOXICITY

Algae researcher Dr. William Barry has personally examined many blooms of the AFA strain

from Klamath Lake (and other lakes too) and has never found any toxicity.. A research report

produced by Rapala in The Journal of Applied Phycology (1993) confirmed Barry.s conclusion;

this report emphatically states that the AFA algae strain is not capable of producing toxins. As

further testament to its safety, it should be noted that hundreds of thousands of people worldwide

have consumed the AFA strain algae with no trace of toxicity.. The only time that AFA should be

used cautiously is when you are extremely weak, thin, very dry with a cold constitution or are

already pregnant. There are two strains of blue-green algae which have produced toxins at various

times: one is called Anaboena-flos aquae, the other Microcystic aeroginosa. Neither strain is

produced commercially and so human consumption would be virtually impossible. The focus of

this book is on the nontoxic and safe AFA wild blue-green strain, rather than any potentially toxic

forms.

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MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE / 14

NUTRITIONAL CONTENT

AFA wild blue-green algae is the most nutrient-dense and per- fectly balanced whole food in the

world. With a dynamic nutri- tional profile, it is the richest source of almost every nutrient in its

purest form. Because it is recognized by the body as a food, it is immediately available with a

greater than 90 percent assimilation rate. This means that the body is capable of utiliz- ing

virtually a11 of the algae.s nutrients; When taking a conven- tional multiple vitamin with

minerals, the body may only absorb a small fraction of the actual nutrient dosages. In my own

clinical practice, I tell my patients that what you eat is important; but what you absorb and

assimilate may even be more important. AFA blue-green algae has an extraordinarily high

content of vitamins, minerals, amino acids (complete protein) and live enzymes: including a

complete amino acid profile with 62 per- cent protein content, high in beta-carotene, antioxidants

and the highest known natural dietary source of vitamin B12 and chlorophyll. The nutritional

composition of the foods we eat is vital, as it determines just how much energy our bodies need to

break down and process those foods. The more processed the food, the harder our bodies have to

work. The more cooked-out foods we eat, the more strain we place on our enzyme quotient.

Enzymes are protein molecules which digest our food and make it small enough to pass through

the minute pores of the intestines into the blood. Modern diets are so devoid of key nutrients and

enzymes to help break foods down and absorb their goodness that we tire our bodies from simple

food abuse. This is why you may feel tired after meals, or bloated and low in energy.

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15 / MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE

 Extra energy is needed to break down and absorb foods that are .empty. or nutrient deficient.

Further energy is required to break down and eliminate pesticides and other toxins from our food

and environment, and to curb the disruptive effects of high levels of mental stress. The end result

is low energy and poor elimination of toxins and waste products. Our bodies then store these

nasty residues in our fat cells, in the blood- stream and in the key organs. We poison ourselves

and rob our bodies of strength. Depletion of energy reserves is thought to contribute to the fall in

immunity and the rise in degenerative diseases that we are now witnessing.

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MINERALS

One of the greatest contributions of blue-green AFA algae is its full spectrum of minerals.

Minerals are the framework for our bodies, critical to our overall mental and physical well- being.

Bones, teeth, muscle, blood, nerve cells, tissues and internal fluids all contain varying quantities

of minerals. They help to build the skeletal structure, regulate the heart, balance internal pressure

of body fluids, nerve response and oxygen transport from the lungs to the tissues. Minerals act as

catalysts for many biological reactions within the body, including muscle response, digestion,

metabolism of nutrients in foods, and transmission of messages through the nervous system.

Miner- als help to maintain the body.s delicate water balance, allowing the mental and physical

processes to function properly. They keep blood and tissue fluids from becoming too acid or too

alkaline, thus balancing the body.s pH. Minerals permit other nutrients to pass into the

bloodstream. Minerals also help draw chemical substances in and out of the cells and aid in the

creation of antibodies. The problem with minerals, however, is that they can only be supplied to

the human body through diet.. Thus, if your diet is poor, your mineral profile will be poor, too.

Not only are we often robbed of minerals by our inadequate diets, but most soils in which our

produce grows are severely mineral deficient. Remember, your body cannot make minerals: if

they are not in the soil, they are not in the produce, and are certainly not in you. A U.S.

government paper illustrated this problem forcefully when leading authorities from Johns

Hopkins University, Yale, Columbia University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported

that .Ninety-nine percent of the American people are deficient in food complexed minerals. A

marked deficiency in any one of the more important minerals actually results in

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MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE / 16

disease. Any upset of the balance, any considerable lack of one or another element, however

microscopic the body requirement may be, can cause us to sicken, suffer and shorten our lives...

And that statement was issued in the 1930s! The matter has worsened since then. Therefore, I

propose that AFA blue- green algae can potentially prevent, correct, alleviate and treat these

mineral imbalances and deficiencies. Trace minerals or micro-minerals are needed in minute

quantities by the body. No one mineral can function without affecting the others. Each mineral

needs other minerals for proper utilization. For example, calcium requires magnesium for its

absorption and assimilation. Moreover, a deficiency of even just one mineral can cause severe

imbalances of vitamins as well. In my own practice, blood tests have revealed that 98 percent of

the people who first come to see me are deficient in one or more macro- or micro-mineral. More

troubling, the pregnant women who- have come to my office were all deficient in certain minerals

on their first visit. I correct these mineral deficiencies with algae, and other components if

necessary. Getting enough minerals in the right balance is critical if you are to feel well; wild

blue-green algae seems to provide a framework for a perfect mineral balance. Wild blue-green

algae contains all the essential trace minerals: boron, calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron,

magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc and

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17 / MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE

vanadium. Since the algae is in such a natural state, it is conceivable that it may even contain

other minerals not yet discovered or identified. But the most significant story here is that these

minerals are in perfect balance for maximum benefits and positive impact upon human

biochemistry. In my practice, the most common mineral deficiency I have discovered is

magnesium. Magnesium is an essential part of many digestive systems and metabolic processes.

According to studies, 80 to 90 percent of the US population may be deficient in the mineral

magnesium.. Dr. Mildred Seelig, one of the country.s leading authorities on magnesium (along

with Dr. William Rea) suggests also that approximately 90 percent of the population is

magnesium deficient..4 I have been able to correct magnesium deficiencies using AFA wild blue-

green algae. As I mentioned at the outset, I suffered for years with a zinc deficiency, even though

I was ingesting zinc supplements. Zinc is an essential trace mineral required by the body in larger

amounts than any other trace mineral except iron. It is an essential cofactor needed by more than

100 enzymes in the eyes, liver, kidneys, muscles, skin, bones, testes and other organs.. To

maintain plasma zinc concentrations, frequent in- takes of dietary zinc are necessary... Zinc is

critical in maintaining many healthy bodily organs and functions. The blue-green AFA algae

finally corrected my zinc deficiency only because the mineral composition of the algae was

perfectly balanced and bio-available, thus allowing my body efficient absorption and assimilation

of this key mineral. According to Dr. Maurice Schiff, a Professor of Medicine at the University of

California at San Diego, the extraordinary mineral profile of the algae will combine and arrange

its mineral matrix as if it were identical to the building blocks of our own flesh. .Because

everything is in its proper proportion, it is readily absorbed by the body,.. he concludes. It is

worth noting that wild blue-green algae has one of the highest sources of cobalt, the essential

mineral part of vitamin B12 and one of the highest natural concentrations of iron known. The

AFA thus builds up the quality of our blood and assists in resistance to infection and diseases.

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VITAMINS

Wild blue-green algae contains the most perfect balance of vitamins of all algaes. Vitamins are

essential to life. They aid in digestion, elimination and resistance to disease. Depletions

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MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE / 18

or deficiencies can lead to various nutritional disorders, de- pending on which vitamins may be

lacking in the diet. With a few exceptions, most vitamins cannot be manufactured by the body.

They must be supplied by the diet or by supplement pills. The vitamin composition of blue-green

algae is far superior to any multivitamin supplement pills. In a recent study at Yale New Haven

Hospital 257 brands of multivitamin supplement pills were evaluated. The study concluded that

80 percent of the vitamin pills were inadequate, incomplete or imbalanced.. With wild-blue green

algae, the composition and balance of vitamins is in perfect harmony with human biochemistry

for maximum utilization.

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Table 2. Key Vitamins in AFA Algae

 B1 (thiamine) choline

B2 (riboflavin) pantothenic acid (B5)

B6 (pyridoxine) biotin

B3 (niacin) folic acid

B12 E

C (ascorbic acid)

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PROTEINS/AMINO ACIDS

Wild blue-green AFA algae is an exceptionally high source of protein (60 percent), nearly

identical to the human body.s protein composition. The quality of the protein in AFA algae is

superior to that of most other plant or animal protein sources, being derived from all eight

essential amino acids. It is important for general good health of the skin, hair, nails, brain,

ligaments, bones, teeth, hormones, sex glands and enzymes that we eat foods with all eight

essential amino acids. If even one amino acid is missing, then the body cannot make protein.

Because plant proteins tend to lack certain amino acids, some vegetarians may suffer from a

deficiency of basic protein. On the other hand, meats (including fish, chicken, beef, turkey)

usually contain all eight essential amino acids to form complete protein. But studies clearly

indicate that animal protein raises cholesterol, increases the risk of heart disease and forms excess

mucus. In addition, animal protein is rather difficult to digest. If protein digestion is incomplete,

then bacteria can form toxic compounds. AFA algae protein is of a type called glycoprotein,

whereas meat and regular vegetable protein is of a type called lipoprotein. The body must convert

lipoproteins into glycoproteins in order to utilize it. Since algae is already in the form of

glycoprotein, the body need not make

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19 / MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE

any biochemical conversion. Thus, eating the blue-green algae protein is more biochemically

efficient and preserves metabolic energy. The protein in AFA algae is 85 percent assimilable,

compared to beef with just a 20 percent assimilable rate.. Improper or incomplete protein

digestion may not only produce toxins, but may very well render the protein worthless. Finally,

AFA protein assists in nourishing the brain and nervous system because of algae.s rich source of

amino acid pep- tides. These peptides are precursor for neurotransmitters which carry messages

from the brain to ordinary muscles, and from the organs back to the brain. Although the brain

comprises just two percent of total body weight, it actually uses 20 percent of the body.s energy

resources. Thus, the brain needs to be fed and satisfied virtually every minute of the day. The

nervous system and brain interface with each other continually as messages are sent back and

forth incessantly. Therefore, if there is the slightest break in this amino acid-peptide link, you

may experience memory loss, mental fatigue or nervous disorders.

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ENZYMES

There are thousands of live active enzymes in AFA algae. Enzymes are critical for life; they are the body's

labor force. Enzymes metabolize, digest and assimilate all substances enter- ing the body. For example, live

enzymes digest food, destroy toxins, even break down fats and cellulose and metabolize starch and proteins.

Furthermore, enzymes are involved in moving muscles, nourishing nerves, stimulating brain function,

breathing, accompanying male sperm and female eggs, fighting off illness, infection and disease and more.

A shortage of live active enzymes could wreak havoc in your body. Unfortunately, most people do not have

sufficient enzyme activity. Although the pancreas manufactures a certain limited number of enzymes for

digestion, there is still a need to supplement the body with additional enzymes. Supplementary enzymes

are generally acquired through the foodsthat we eat; raw fruits and vegetables are packed with live

active enzymes. However, these supplementary enzymes are easily destroyed when we cook, broil,

boil, bake, fry, saute, poach or even freeze our foods. The enzymes within the body are further

destroyed by stress, fatigue, chemical pollutants, even pregnancy and possibly an extraordinarily

strenuous exercise regime. Thus, the thousands of live active enzymes within wild blue-green AFA

algae can contribute to a substantially healthier life.

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Table 3. Amino Acid Content of AFA Algae

Essential Semiessential Nonessential

Isolelucine